Women who keep their married name YEARS after the divorce.

Mojisola

GingerBob wrote: »

Also, most of them don't know the difference between Yours faithfully and Yours sincerely. In fact, most organisations, especially government departments, don't know the first thing about correct letter writing.

But there's isn't a right and wrong way to write letters. There's a convention from way back when but there's no sensible reason why you shouldn't finish a letter "Yours sincerely" when you've started the letter with "Dear Mr Smith".

missbiggles1

Mojisola wrote: »

But there's isn't a right and wrong way to write letters. There's a convention from way back when but there's no sensible reason why you shouldn't finish a letter "Yours sincerely" when you've started the letter with "Dear Mr Smith".

But, in formal letter writing, it is convention which dictates what's correct.

Like anything else, you can refuse to conform to convention but most people will just consider you to be ignorant rather than a free spirit - and generally they'll be right.

Mojisola

missbiggles1 wrote: »

But, in formal letter writing, it is convention which dictates what's correct.

Like anything else, you can refuse to conform to convention but most people will just consider you to be ignorant rather than a free spirit - and generally they'll be right.

There were a lot of other conventions that were 'right' in Victorian times which we don't follow now. What's so special about letter writing?

missbiggles1

GingerBob wrote: »

I agree. That is wrong, but have you noticed how many organisations write to you like that now? Also, most of them don't know the difference between Yours faithfully and Yours sincerely. In fact, most organisations, especially government departments, don't know the first thing about correct letter writing.

I'd agree with that, although I don't understand the reason for it.

Goldiegirl

ravilious_fan wrote: »

I find it quite nostalgic (in a good way!) when people refer to others they know by their surnames. It used to be far more commonplace in the workplace and also among acquaintances to know someone as Mr___ or Mrs_____ (or Miss_______ ) It's more formal and more polite, in my opinion.

Nowadays even doctors are starting to introduce themselves just by their first name and it feels weird!

Up until the late 1980's, it was the custom to call the branch manager Mr _____ (it was always a man back then). Then overnight, informality came in, and we were required to call him by his first name. I found it so awkward, as I'd always addressed him formally - i couldn't bring myself to use his first name, so I never called him anything at all after that.

missbiggles1

Mojisola wrote: »

There were a lot of other conventions that were 'right' in Victorian times which we don't follow now. What's so special about letter writing?

I don't think that was the convention in the Victorian period.

http://www.victorianpassage.com/2006/12/the_correct_thing_in_good_soci.php

There's nothing wrong with having a universally accepted way of going about things (like letter writing) if it's not based on some form of inequality. It allows people to learn and follow the acceptable format and those who want to break the rules can do so.

If there are no rules you take away the fun of breaking them (although doing things wrongly because you don't know any different is obviously not the same thing).

missbiggles1

Goldiegirl wrote: »

Up until the late 1980's, it was the custom to call the branch manager Mr _____ (it was always a man back then). Then overnight, informality came in, and we were required to call him by his first name. I found it so awkward, as I'd always addressed him formally - i couldn't bring myself to use his first name, so I never called him anything at all after that.

I really cringe when I hear young children calling elderly people by their first names. I know how much my dad hated it but he never dared to say anything in case he got a brick through the window.

Mojisola

missbiggles1 wrote: »

There's nothing wrong with having a universally accepted way of going about things (like letter writing) if it's not based on some form of inequality. It allows people to learn and follow the acceptable format and those who want to break the rules can do so.

If there was a good reason for the rules, I could see the point.

It really makes no difference to anyone at all if I finish my letters "Yours sincerely" or "Yours faithfully".

missbiggles1

Mojisola wrote: »

If there was a good reason for the rules, I could see the point.

It really makes no difference to anyone at all if I finish my letters "Yours sincerely" or "Yours faithfully".

It makes a (small) difference in the way that people will think of you though.;)

If you have standard conventions then those can be taught to children from any background (as we were) which allows them to communicate formally on an equal level to anybody, which I have to think is a good thing.

Night!

Torry_Quine

Mojisola wrote: »

But there's isn't a right and wrong way to write letters. There's a convention from way back when but there's no sensible reason why you shouldn't finish a letter "Yours sincerely" when you've started the letter with "Dear Mr Smith".

Actually that's the correct way.

Sir isn't sincere but Mr/Mrs/Ms is.